Mandatory staff training on mental health and trauma-informed approaches
Brook House Inquiry · The Brook House Inquiry Report · Issued 19 September 2023 · Addressed to: Home Office
Government responseHome Office: Accepted, fully or in part (not specified) (Jan 2025)
DeliveryHome Office says completed (Jan 2025)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
The Home Office, in conjunction with contractors, must ensure that all relevant immigration removal centre staff receive mandatory introductory and annual training on: mental health; race and diversity; a trauma-informed approach; their own resilience; drug awareness; and the purpose of immigration removal centres. This training must include the perspectives of, or be conducted in consultation with, detained people. The Home Office must also ensure, in conjunction with contractors, that new joiners must start on probation on completion of introductory training and be adequately supervised for a period of time as necessary to establish their competence to work independently.
Brook House Inquiry, The Brook House Inquiry Report · 19 Sep 2023 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
In a January 2025 parliamentary written answer, Dame Angela Eagle, Minister of State at the Home Office, stated that the recommendation had been accepted or partially accepted and was "met and closed as of October 2024" (Dame Angela Eagle response, Jan 2025; Dame Angela Eagle, Jan 2025). The department previously stated in its March 2024 response that the initial training course for contracted staff was undergoing a full review to ensure understanding of mental health and racial awareness, followed by mentorship and annual refresher training (Home Office response, Mar 2024).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 27 Sep 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●Home Office · Accepted, fully or in part (not specified) · 15 Jan 2025
30 out of the 33 recommendations made by the Brook House Inquiry have been accepted or partially accepted.
Response document: Mistreatment of Detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre Inquiry (written question UIN 23170)
Earlier statement from Home Office (1)
●Home Office · Under consideration · 19 Mar 2024
6.8.2. The ITC for all new contracted service provider staff in IRCs is undergoing a full review to ensure understanding of fundamental subjects including AaR, mental health awareness, racial awareness and safeguarding children. There will also be a mentorship phase following completion of initial training and annual refresher training to ensure new recruits are effectively supported. These are contractual obligations that are also set out in the contract and certification DSO.
Extract from: Government response to the public inquiry into Brook House Immigration Removal Centre
Delivery
●Home Office says completed · 15 Jan 2025
12 recommendations (recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 14, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) met and closed as of October 2024
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